Luck leads inspired Colts past Dolphins

The Colts' Andrew Luck (12) tosses a pass to Dwyane Allen while being tackled in the fourth quarter.

INDIANAPOLIS - Chuck Pagano provided the inspiration, and then Andrew Luck delivered a record-setting performance in yet another win for surprising Indianapolis.

After a 23-20 victory over Miami, the ailing coach offered even more encouragement.

Picked by many to be among the NFL's weakest teams, the rebuilding Colts now are in the playoff conversation at 5-3.

"I mentioned before the game that you guys were living in a vision and you weren't living in circumstances," Pagano said Sunday, surrounded by his players and with interim Bruce Arians at his side after Indianapolis' third consecutive win. "You know where they had us in the beginning, every last one of them. But you refused to live in circumstances, and you decided consciously as a team and as a family to live in a vision. That's why you're already champions and well on your way."

Luck wasn't too concerned that he had just broken Cam Newton's year-old record for yards passing in a game by a rookie or even that his team had another victory. He just wanted to live up to the message from his coach, who has been receiving treatment for leukemia since being diagnosed Sept. 26.

"His presence is felt every day in the facility," Luck said. "But to see him in the flesh, in the locker room, to hear him speak I think gave all the guys a boost."

The Colts now have won more than twice as many games in half a season as they did in 16 games last year.

Luck threw for 433 yards and two touchdowns. He topped Newton's mark of 422 and tied another by becoming the NFL's second rookie quarterback to produce four 300-yard games in a season. The other was Peyton Manning, the quarterback he replaced.

Luck had it all working against the Dolphins (4-4). He completed 30 of 48 passes, converted 13 of 19 third-down chances and remained under control even when he started moving around in the pocket.

The matchup between two of this season's rookie quarterbacks and two of this season's biggest surprise teams was every bit as good as advertised.

The teams combined for 881 total yards without any turnovers, and Miami's Ryan Tannehill, who was limited in practice all week and considered questionable, was 22-of-38 for 290 yards with one TD.